A Dive into Atlanta’s Diverse Bee Kingdom. 

Atlanta is a haven for various species of bees. From the familiar honey bees to the lesser-known carpenter bees and masonry bees, these buzzing insects play crucial roles in pollination and ecosystem health. So how can we accurately distinguish between the various types of bees?

Honey Bees: Honey bees are perhaps the most recognizable and widely known bee species. Known for their distinctive black and yellow stripes, honey bees are social insects that live in colonies with a queen bee and her worker bees. In Atlanta, honey bees can be found in urban areas, parks, and gardens, where they forage on flowers for nectar and pollen. They are essential pollinators for many crops and wild plants, contributing to the city’s biodiversity.

Yellow Jackets: While often mistaken for bees, yellow jackets are actually a type of wasp. These insects have a slender body with distinct black and yellow markings. Unlike honey bees, yellow jackets are aggressive predators and scavengers, feeding on other insects and human food sources. Yellow jackets build their nests in the ground, in wall cavities, or under eaves, posing a nuisance and potential danger to humans, especially during late summer and early fall.

Masonry Bees: Also known as mason bees, are solitary bees that play an important role in pollination. Unlike honey bees, masonry bees do not live in colonies but nest individually in pre-existing cavities such as hollow stems, holes in wood, or even in the mortar of brick walls. Masonry bees are gentle and non-aggressive, making them excellent pollinators for fruit trees, flowers, and other plants in Atlanta’s urban environment.

Carpenter Bees: These are large, robust bees with shiny black abdomens and a distinctive buzzing sound. Unlike masonry bees, carpenter bees are solitary but may nest in large numbers in wooden structures such as fences, decks, and eaves. While they are important pollinators, carpenter bees can cause damage to wooden structures over time by boring tunnels for their nests. Proper management techniques, such as providing alternative nesting sites and sealing wooden surfaces, can help mitigate conflicts with carpenter bees.

Bumble Bees: Distinct within the Apidae family, boast fuzzy bodies and vibrant colors, setting them apart from other bees. Known for their buzz pollination technique, they play a crucial role in pollinating crops like tomatoes and blueberries. These social insects form seasonal colonies, often nesting underground or in sheltered spots like grass tussocks. With a remarkable ability to regulate body temperature, they thrive in cooler climates, aiding early-season pollination. However, their populations face threats from habitat loss, pesticides, and disease, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts to protect these essential pollinators and the ecosystems they inhabit. 

Leaf cutter bees. These are small to medium-sized bees with a furry appearance, usually black with light-colored bands. They often nest in existing cavities like hollow plant stems or in tunnels in wood. Leafcutter bees are solitary, with each female constructing her own nest using pieces of leaves. They’re important pollinators and are especially efficient at pollinating certain crops. Their behavior involves collecting pieces of leaves to construct their nests, which they then provision with pollen and nectar before sealing each cell with leaf material. Their lifespan typically ranges from a few weeks to a few months.

Mining bees.They are also known as digger bees, are small to medium-sized bees that nest in the ground, excavating tunnels in sandy or well-drained soil. They’re solitary, with each female digging her own burrow and provisioning it with pollen and nectar. Mining bees are not aggressive and rarely sting unless handled roughly or threatened. They’re important pollinators and are often active early in the spring. Their lifespan ranges from a few weeks to a few months.

Sweat bees.They are small metallic-colored bees found in Atlanta. They’re attracted to human sweat but are generally docile and not aggressive. Sweat bees are solitary, with each female building her own nest and provisioning it with pollen and nectar. They’re important pollinators and are often found visiting a wide range of flowers. Their lifespan ranges from a few weeks to a few months.

In the delicate tapestry of our ecosystem, bees play a pivotal role in pollinating one-third of the world’s crops and maintaining the delicate balance of our environment. However, when bee colonies inhabit our homes or buildings, it can be tempting to opt for extermination which ultimately threatens the food supply and the health of our planet. But what if there were a more compassionate and sustainable solution?

 Enter live bee relocation – a method that not only saves the bees but also preserves the intricate balance of nature. Unlike extermination, which eradicates entire colonies, live bee relocation seeks to peacefully relocate these buzzing architects to more suitable habitats. But why should you care?

Most bee extermination methods involve toxic chemicals that not only harm bees but also pollute soil, water, and air, creating a harmful cycle of environmental damage. Plus, these pesticides don’t effectively eliminate bees due to their sheer numbers in a hive. At SouthEast Bee Removal, we prioritize the safety of both humans and bees, focusing on safe bee removal from premises.

Consider the ecological impact. Bees are not just honey producers; they’re essential pollinators for countless plant species, including many of the foods we enjoy daily. Without bees, crops would struggle to reproduce, leading to lower yields and potential biodiversity crises.

Moreover, bees serve as indicators of environmental health. Live bee removal minimizes the harmful effects associated with extermination, which can harm beneficial insects, wildlife, and humans. Additionally, extermination can destroy hive materials, further disrupting ecosystems. By choosing live bee removal, we reduce these negative impacts and promote sustainable management practices.

But the benefits extend beyond ecology. Live bee relocation fosters a culture of coexistence and respect for all living beings. It challenges the idea that creatures must be eradicated at any cost and encourages compassionate stewardship of nature. By opting for relocation, we demonstrate our commitment to living in harmony with the natural world, setting an example for future generations.

Furthermore, live bee relocation promotes public awareness and education. By engaging with professionals who specialize in bee relocation, individuals gain insights into the fascinating world of bees and their crucial ecological role. This knowledge empowers communities to adopt bee-friendly practices, such as planting pollinator-friendly gardens and avoiding harmful pesticides.

In conclusion, the choice between live bee relocation and extermination goes beyond mere bee control; it reflects our values as environmental stewards. By opting for relocation, we honor the vital role of bees in sustaining life on Earth, protecting ecosystems, and promoting empathy and coexistence. So, when bees buzz into your space next time, consider embracing live relocation – not just for the bees’ sake, but for the health of our planet and future generations.

It is spring 2022 and the bee removal season is just getting started.

Honey bees that have been mostly dormant through winter are becoming very active on warm days. The queen begins laying 2,000 eggs a day in the spring and early summer as hives go through a population explosion. During this time the hive will often swarm. This is when approximately half of the hive (up to 20,000 bees or more) will leave the orginal colony and move into to a new location to start another hive. Once honey bees have picked a location they like, they can move into their new home within a matter of minutes.

Super Swarm of 20,000 Plus Honey Bees  

Southeast Bee Removal is a family owned business specializing in removing honey bees and bee hives and has years of experience! We will humanly remove the bees and relocate them. After removal of a bee colony from a structure, we will repair the access area with the original building materials and give a guarantee against reinfestation to that exact lcoation.

We are based out of Atlanta GA and service middle and north GA including metro Atlanta, Macon, Columbus, Augusta, Athens, and the surrounding area, eastern AL including Montgomerry and Birmingham, and the Greenville SC area. 

Are you wondering wether you need an expert to remove a bee infestation or if you can  tackle it yourself? Here are some things to keep in mind. Your are likely dealing with any where from 10,000-60,000 (or more) bees depending on the size and age of the hive. Removing honey bees from a structure is labor intensive, requires a good deal of knowledge, and can result in many stings if not done properly.

A one week old hive containing 20,000 bees.

The following methods do not work well for getting rid of honey bees.

1. Using soap and water and other “deterrents” to get the bees to leave. These do little to get honey bees to move from any location they have chosen as home. Even if you have only noticed the bees for a day it is unlikely you will get them to budge.

2. Spraying 3 or more cans of wasp or bee killer at the entry point. Spraying the entry point may kill a few hundred bees, but the bulk of the nest (up to 60,000 bees or more) is inside, behind insulation and walls and floor boards. The pesticide will unlikely penetrate far enough back to do anything to the bees. Even if you were successful at killing all the bees, there could be substantial honey comb and bee larva in the nest that will make a mess unless it is removed.

3. Seal the bees’ entry point. All this does is keep the bees from coming and going freely. You wont sees bees on the outside but the bees are still alive and probably have plenty of food and air to live a long time. The bees will begin looking for other ways to get back out. Many times they will start coming in the home. We have seen bees come in a home for more than 8 weeks straight after their entry point was sealed shut.

A colony containing 30,000 honey bees and 50 plus pounds of honey.

4. Try to smoke the bees out. I have seen this tried and it failed. Smoking bees is great for beekeepers working in the own hives in the backyard. However, if you smoke bees in a house, it usually drives them further into the house. Another problem with trying to smoke the bees out of a house is that it can be dangerous. You don’t want your house to catch on fire. I have seen a burned up shrub that was against a house, burned up from someone trying to smoke the bees out that were in an overhang above it. 

5. Kill the bees, remove the honey comb, and repair the access area. Mission accomplished, right? Not necessarily. Unless the area is sealed properly, the pheromones left by the first hive will attract other colonies in the future. It is very likely bees will keep coming back. On one house the bees came back to the same spot three times in a matter of 5 years. The last time the home owners decided to call Southeast Bee Removal instead of doing it themselves. By the way, Southeast Bee Removal does live honey bee removal and relcoation with their removals and recommends trying to save the bees as a first choice. In most cases the bees can be saved. 

6. Wait and see if the problem goes away on its own. I am an experienced beekeeper and I love bees, but I would not want them in my house. I have seen all the problems and damage they can cause if left alone. There is a possibility that someone would get stung. Also, the older a bee hive is the bigger and more difficult it will be to remove. Furthermore, the colony of bees will likely swarm in the spring (half the hive leaves and moves to a new location), and you risk having them moving into a second spot on your home or into your neighbors home. 

These are some of the biggest no nos you want to avoid when considering what to do with a honey bee colony that has taken up residence in your home or business.

If you need advice/help in removing a honey bee colony you can contact Southeast Bee Removal for a free estiamte. We have lots of experience (we have removed 1,000s of bee hives) and love our job! 

Helen, is located in the beautiful Appalachian mountains of northeast Georgia about 80 miles from Atlanta. It is a little German town and a fun place to visit. In fact, it is the 3^rd most visited town in Georgia. It has over 200 specialty shops, a scenic state park, and is known for its Oktoberfest. It is a great town to come to for a nice quiet weekend getaway, especially if you have a log cabin home to go to.

A home owner was in for a surprise one day, when they went to spend time at their cabin. They discovered honey bees flying back and forth at the peak of their roof about 30 feet off the ground. A swarm of honey bees had found a perfect place to build their nest or so they thought. They choose the very top of this mountain home and had an entry point right underneath the shingles.

With all the trees and flowing plants that are in Helen, it is a natural habitat for honey bees. You just don’t want them in your house. So Southeast Bee Removal was called to take care of the bee problem.

It was a little hard to tell from the ground the exact entry point of the bee hive. After climbing on the roof I could see the bees were gaining access through a construction gap where the dormer roof meet the peak. There were two ways I could have accessed the bees. The first option would have been through the wooden tongue and groove ceiling of the upstairs bathroom. The second option was through the shingles at the top of the roof. I decided that going through the shingles would be the least amount of work and mess.

After opening the area up, I could see part of the hive. It was maybe a month old.

I carefully removed the entire bees nest including, all the bees, comb, and honey. We do live honey bee removal with the help of a specialized bee vac. 

Some of the hive stuck to the section of plywood I cut out.

With the hive removed, I filled the void with fiberglass insulation to prevent re-infestation to the same location.

I also sealed the bees entry point and checked for other possible cracks on the other side of the dormer and sealed those as well.

The plywood and shingles went down without a problem. You wouldn’t even know that a bee hive had been removed from this location. I usually put a new piece of tar paper between the plywood and shingles to make sure it is extra water tight.

It wasn’t the easiest bee removal I have ever done but I did enjoy a great mountain view while I was removing the bees!

Got bees you need to get rid of? Contact us today for a free estiamte.